Here's a structured guide on how to teach patterns and logic with strategies and examples:
Start with visual patterns
Skill: Recognizing repeating and growing patterns
Activities:
Pattern blocks: Use colored tiles or shapes to make AB, ABC, AABB patterns.
Draw it out: Create patterns with stamps, crayons, or stickers.
"What comes next?": Show a pattern like blue – green – blue – green… and ask them to complete it.
Talk it out: Ask students to describe the pattern in words: “Blue, green, blue, green…”
Pattern worksheets: in our kindergarten section we have several worksheets that have students recognize and complete patterns.
Use number patterns
Skill: Understanding sequences and numerical relationships
Activities:
Skip counting: Practice 2s, 5s, 10s using claps, jumps, or songs.
Number ladders: Fill in missing numbers in a sequence (e.g., 3, 6, __, 12, __).
Odd/even sorting: Have kids color-code or sort numbers.
Challenge: “What’s the rule?” games where they identify the rule behind a pattern.
Skip counting worksheets: we have several skip counting worksheets in our math section across several grades. For example, this skip counting by 2s in the kindergarten counting section.
Odd/even numbers worksheets: we also have a section on recognizing odd and even numbers in kindergarten math.
Introduce logic with simple riddles
Skill: Deductive thinking and reasoning
Activities:
"Yes or No" games: Think of a number and let students ask yes/no questions.
Who has it?: Give clues like “The person with the red shirt is not holding the ball” and deduce who has what.
Simple Sudoku: 4x4 versions help with logical placement.
Focus: encourage them to explain why they made a choice.
Use words and story logic
Skill: Connecting logic with literacy
Activities:
If...then statements: E.g., "If a triangle has 3 sides, then what shape has 4?"
Logic puzzles: “Three kids are sitting in a row. Sam is not in the middle. Mia is not on the left. Who is where?”
Odd one out: Show four pictures or words and ask which doesn’t belong and why.
Integrate art, music and movement
Skill: Applying patterns across subjects
Ideas:
Clap-dance patterns: Clap, stomp, snap—then repeat.
Pattern drawing: Mandalas, bead necklaces, bracelet codes.
Music beats: Tap out and create rhythmic patterns.
